Ringmer Community College
Encyclopedia
Ringmer Community College and Sixth Form is located in the village of Ringmer
in East Sussex
. It was opened in 1958 and serves a catchment area of Lewes
and surrounding towns.
The current Headteacher is Ms Kathy Stonier who has been Head Mistress since 2002.
Ringmer County Secondary School gained recognition for its work with the community, including evening classes for adults. The school also had recognition for the high expectations and the excellence of the brass band
, who still meet at reunions. The Band travelled across Europe, with their conductor Michael Fairhurst, the original conductor for the band. He continued working at the school for many years after and ran the junior windband on a Tuesday morning and the string quartet.
The original school building received a Civic Trust
Award for its design, which has changed throughout the years to meet the changing needs of the school. The Library
was built in 1973 as the numbers of students increased from 300 to the current 920, as a result of the school leaving age being raised to 16.
The Secondary school became a Community College when the former Prime Minister
- Lord Callaghan formally opened the school.
The original school building consisted of:
Channel Five news reader, Natasha Kaplinsky (born 1972), attended the school for a short time before moving to Varndean College
in Brighton
. Kaplinsky was bullied at the school for a time and as a result has bad memories of her time there, she has since declined offers to return to the college.
In 2006 the John Wakely Building was built, which housed Modern Foreign Languages until 2008 when the department moved over to the Clarke Building, resulting in the English department moving into the Wakely building. The building was named after the former Headmaster John Wakely (1983–1998).
In 2008 the school re-branded with a new logo, and from September 2008 the college name was changed to 'Ringmer Community College and Sixth Form' as a new sixth form had been built.
Previous House Leaders:
, as well as playing an active role in the wider community. The role of Head of Year 7 was introduced in 2008, after a successful trial by having the Senior Students for 2007/08 based with the Year 7's on a rota. The role mainly consists of helping the Year 7's transition from primary school to secondary school and to help them settle into college life.
The various roles are:
Two former Senior Students have received the Diana Award
during their time in the role.
The Sixth Form opened for lessons on 22 September 2008, and held its official opening on 30 September 2008. It was opened by two of the Sixth Form students.
In 2008 the colleges continued efforts to improving the environment were highlighted when Southern FM (now known as Heart Sussex), interviewed students and staff regarding the several energy saving features they had introduced.
Ringmer
Ringmer is a village and civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex, England. The village is located three miles east of Lewes. Other small settlements in the parish include Upper Wellingham, Ashton Green, Broyle Side and Little Norlington....
in East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
. It was opened in 1958 and serves a catchment area of Lewes
Lewes
Lewes is the county town of East Sussex, England and historically of all of Sussex. It is a civil parish and is the centre of the Lewes local government district. The settlement has a history as a bridging point and as a market town, and today as a communications hub and tourist-oriented town...
and surrounding towns.
The current Headteacher is Ms Kathy Stonier who has been Head Mistress since 2002.
History of the School
Ringmer Secondary School opened in 1958, serving the local area and surrounding towns and villages.Ringmer County Secondary School gained recognition for its work with the community, including evening classes for adults. The school also had recognition for the high expectations and the excellence of the brass band
Brass band
A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting entirely of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands , but are usually more correctly termed military bands, concert...
, who still meet at reunions. The Band travelled across Europe, with their conductor Michael Fairhurst, the original conductor for the band. He continued working at the school for many years after and ran the junior windband on a Tuesday morning and the string quartet.
The original school building received a Civic Trust
Civic Trust
The Civic Trust of England was a charitable organisation founded in 1957. It ceased operations in 2009 and went into administration due to lack of funds/...
Award for its design, which has changed throughout the years to meet the changing needs of the school. The Library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
was built in 1973 as the numbers of students increased from 300 to the current 920, as a result of the school leaving age being raised to 16.
The Secondary school became a Community College when the former Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
- Lord Callaghan formally opened the school.
The original school building consisted of:
- The Clark Block, housing the Drama Studio, English and Technology departments.
- The swimming pool - built in 1981.
- The Music department, which had to be extended housing studio and recording rooms.
- The major building phase in 1988 improved Humanities and Science facilities, within a two-story building. Which were improved again in 2000 with the Specialist Technology College status.
Channel Five news reader, Natasha Kaplinsky (born 1972), attended the school for a short time before moving to Varndean College
Varndean College
Varndean College is a sixth form college located in Brighton & Hove that serves the needs of sixth form students and adults.-History:The college was founded in 1884 in York Place, Brighton as a boys' Secondary School and moved to its current site overlooking the city and the sea in 1932, later...
in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
. Kaplinsky was bullied at the school for a time and as a result has bad memories of her time there, she has since declined offers to return to the college.
In 2006 the John Wakely Building was built, which housed Modern Foreign Languages until 2008 when the department moved over to the Clarke Building, resulting in the English department moving into the Wakely building. The building was named after the former Headmaster John Wakely (1983–1998).
In 2008 the school re-branded with a new logo, and from September 2008 the college name was changed to 'Ringmer Community College and Sixth Form' as a new sixth form had been built.
Pastoral system
Ringmer Community College has a strong pastoral system that was introduced in 2006.Houses
Ringmer Community College has four houses, which students are automatically put into a house prior to joining the school. The four houses are:| House | House Leader | Colour |
|---|---|---|
| Arundel Arundel Arundel is a market town and civil parish in the South Downs of West Sussex in the south of England. It lies south southwest of London, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester. Other nearby towns include Worthing east southeast, Littlehampton to the south and Bognor Regis to... |
Mr Philip Dean | Green |
| Bodiam Bodiam Bodiam is a small village and civil parish in East Sussex, England, in the valley of the River Rother near to the villages of Sandhurst and Ewhurst Green. It is home to Bodiam Castle, a small range of houses, a pub opposite Bodiam Castle, and a restaurant... |
Mr Peter Pretorius | Purple |
| Lewes Lewes Lewes is the county town of East Sussex, England and historically of all of Sussex. It is a civil parish and is the centre of the Lewes local government district. The settlement has a history as a bridging point and as a market town, and today as a communications hub and tourist-oriented town... |
Mrs Susan Lockyer | Yellow |
| Pevensey Pevensey Pevensey is a village and civil parish in the Wealden district of East Sussex, England. The main village is located 5 miles north-east of Eastbourne, one mile inland from Pevensey Bay. The settlement of Pevensey Bay forms part of the parish.-Geography:The village of Pevensey is located on... |
Mrs Tracy DiPaolo | Blue |
Previous House Leaders:
- Bodiam - Mrs Jacqui Bowden (2006–2007)
Senior Students
The Senior Students support the House Leaders within the college, assisting with the enforcement of rules, mentoring younger students, sitting on the Student CouncilStudent council
Student council is a curricular or extra-curricular activity for students within elementary and secondary schools around the world. Present in most public and private K-12 school systems across the United States, Canada and Australia these bodies are alternatively entitled student council, student...
, as well as playing an active role in the wider community. The role of Head of Year 7 was introduced in 2008, after a successful trial by having the Senior Students for 2007/08 based with the Year 7's on a rota. The role mainly consists of helping the Year 7's transition from primary school to secondary school and to help them settle into college life.
The various roles are:
- Head Boy and Girl of College - they oversee the other Senior Students and act as Chair of the School Council
- Head Boy and Girl of House - they assist the Head of House with duties and generally support their House within the pastoral system
- Head Boy and Girl of Hospitality - they show guests to the College around and organise tours, as well as introduce the Year 7's to the college
- Head Boy and Girl of Year 7 - they offer support to the Year 7's
Two former Senior Students have received the Diana Award
Diana Memorial Award
The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Award for Inspirational Young People was established in 1999 by a board chaired by the then Chancellor, Gordon Brown, who felt that the award would reflect the personal interest of Diana, Princess of Wales in helping and supporting young people.-Purpose:The...
during their time in the role.
Sixth form
The Sixth Form Centre offers students a variety of different subjects to study at A Level, AS Level as well as Diplomas and vocational courses. The block was built by Mansells, who have previously built at the school. The building of the new Sixth Form exhibits a new dance studio, a new design and technology workshop, new music facilities, including a recording studio and also new sports pitches.The Sixth Form opened for lessons on 22 September 2008, and held its official opening on 30 September 2008. It was opened by two of the Sixth Form students.
Awards and recognition
Ringmer Community College has received many awards, and received much recognition from local government and media bodies.- Technology Colleges,
- Eco-Schools,
- Investor In People,
- Arts Mark - Gold,
- Vocational,
- Winner - South East Renewable Energy Awards 2006,
- Healthy Schools - East Sussex,
- Gold Princess Diana Award
- Ashden Award for sustainable energy
In 2008 the colleges continued efforts to improving the environment were highlighted when Southern FM (now known as Heart Sussex), interviewed students and staff regarding the several energy saving features they had introduced.